Serbia intends to launch new round of auctions for wind, solar in November

The Ministry of Mining and Energy of Serbia plans to launch the second round of auctions for incentives for renewable energy sources in the fourth quarter. It is targeting November. The quotas would likely match the ministry’s three-year auction plan.

Serbia is preparing the regulatory framework for its second auctions for wind and solar power, according to renewables advisor Rade Mrdak from the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided technical assistance, but the ministry alone did a lot of work, he pointed out at the conference Businesses on the Road to Green Transition, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham).

In his words, the plan is to issue the public calls in November, in the last quarter of 2024, in line with the three-year auction plan.

The quota should match the three-year auction plan

When asked about quotas, Mrdak told Balkan Green Energy News they would likely match the three-year plan, but that everything would be decided before the competitive process is launched.

Serbia initiated its first auctions in June last year and awarded the entire 400 MW quota for wind farms and half of the available 50 MW for photovoltaic plants.

The three-year incentives plan for renewables for the period 2023-2025 consists of three rounds of auctions. The second one, which was scheduled to be completed first quarter of this year, envisages awarding two-way market premiums for 100 MW of solar power capacity and 300 MW for wind. The 25 MW remaining from the first round should also be added to the PV quota in the second round.

Serbia will introduce a new criterion in the auctions

The moderator, Petar Mitrović, partner at the Karanović & Partners law office, commented that the second round would include the new criterion from last year’s amendments to the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources. Mrdak added it is perhaps the main reason for the delay.

Offering part of the capacity for supplying end consumers will be included in bid valuation. Participants can offer it to the universal supplier, in this case the state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), or sign a corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) with an end consumer.

According to Mrdak, the ministry will do its best to conduct informal consultations with business associations, such as AmCham, to hear their opinions on the issue.

Stefan Lazarević, president of the Board of Governors of AmCham Serbia, and Stefan Srbljanović, state secretary at the Ministry of Mining and Energy, opened the conference.